Amusement apparatus



July 4, 1950 J. c. KOCl AMUSEMENT APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov.19, 1945 1720671Z07" Jriy C. ffocz' 4 9 RM Q MM life/"226% July 4, 1950Filed Nov. 19, 1945 AMUSEMENT APPARATUS J. C. KOCI H a 70 Ill .5/ 3;;455

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 J/"r'y Ciji acz' QM July 4, 1950 J. c. KOCI AMUSEMENTAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 19, 1945 Q m.& m kmkg $5 3% GPatented July 4, 1950 AMUSEMENT APPARATUS Jerry C. Koci, Riverside,Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Chicago Coin Machine 00.,Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 19, 1945,Serial No. 629,456

4 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus and particularly to thattype of apparatus where a player may pit his skill against anotherplayer or, in the alternative, against a robot player, this latter beingan automatically actuated playing means. Thus, the game may be any oneof a number where two players ordinarily participate. While theapparatus has been illustrated with reference to hockey, it is manifestthat other games, like tennis, may form the basis of the amusementapparatus.

The apparatus forming the subject matter of thisinvention constitutes animprovement upon Patent 2,318,169 issued May 4, 1943, to La Rock. Inthis patent, a game for playing hockey is shown wherein two mannikins orrobots are provided, these robots being under the control of one person.While the apparatus patented above provides an entertaining game, theinvention herein improves upon the latter. The invention provides anapparatus where one person controls only one robot and where the otheropposing robot is under separate control. Thus, the separate control maybe exercised either by the machine to provide a robot opponent orselectively may be under the control of a different person. The skilland speed required of one or both persons operating the apparatus isenhanced over that necessary in the apparatus of the patent referred toabove.

It is understood that the selection of the type of game played on thenew apparatus must be made at the beginning of the game. Thus, prior tothe initiation of the game, a control may be set so that either dual orsolo play is provided. In general, the game resembles the game of thepatent in that a predetermined number of balls are preferably fed insuccession on the playing field. While means may be provided to restrictthe ball feed so that only one ball is used at any one time, it ispreferred to feed a number of balls in quick succession. Thus, a fastand exciting game is provided.

The invention herein provides a convenient means whereby one coin willcondition the game apparatus for solo play, while two coins conditionthe apparatus for dual p1ay.' Any predetermined number of balls may beused fora complete game, the limit being readily adjusted.

Once the ball limit has been reached; the ball feed to the playing fieldis stopped.

The playing field is preferably divided by a median transverse line fromwhich line the field slopes gently. Opposed playing regions are provided on opposite sides. of the median line and beyond the playingregions are goal regions. At each playing region may be one or morerobots provided with means to intercept a ball or what ever is used inthe game.

The game apparatus embodying the present invention also includestotalizing means for scoring both sides, irrespective of the type ofgame.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference will nowbe made to the drawings wherein an exemplary embodiment is disclosed, itbeing understood, however, that various modifications within the scopeof the invention may be provided.

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front of a game apparatusembodying this invention. Figure 2 is a sectional view of the apparatusshown in Figure 1 showing certain details of the robot operating meansand ball feed. Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 2 0showing the ball feed mechanism. Figure 4 is a sectional view along line4-4 of Figure 2, showing the details of a switch in a ball return chutefor counting purposes. Figure 5 is a front View of the ball feed portionof the system with certain parts broken away. Figure 6 is a section onbroken line 6-6 of Figure 5. Figure '7 is a perspective view of the endor discharge plate and shutter of the ball feed portion of the system.Figure 8'is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections in thesystem.

The entire game apparatus may conveniently be housed in cabinet l0having top panel H and front panel Hi. Top panel II has playing field Mbordered by score-indicating means l5 and it at opposite ends of thefield. Lights l1 vmay be provided for illuminating the field. Glasspanels [8 and I9 serve to cover the playing and score-indicating means.2

Playing field l4 may be bordered by a generally oval shaped wall 20-.The playing field'has ends '2l and 22 which may be considered asrepresentiIlg goals. These goals are guarded by robots 23 and 24suitably mounted for rotation as hereinafter described. Each robotcarries hockey stick 25, which stick is just long enough to operatesnugly within the narrowing end regions of the playing field.

As described in the patent referred to above, playing field M hastransverse median line 21 from which line the field slopes gently towardthe two ends. The angle of slope may be set to any desired value and, inpractice, may be small, something of the order of about four or fivedegrees.

In front of playing field l4, cabinet top It has upon receipt of a coinso that playing conditions may be provided. As will be apparent later,game selector 32 must be operated first. Then coin slide 34 is operated,the projecting part being pushed in against spring pressure for eachcoin deposited. Thus, for a dual game, two coins are successivelydeposited.

Irrespective of whether a dual or solo game is played, one robot will bedirectly under the control of a person. For convenience, this may beassumed to be robot 24 controlled by means 3|. Robot 24 is adapted to bestill, turn clockwise or anti-clockwise depending upon whether control3| is moved from a normal position and, if so, upon the direction ofmovement of control 3|. In the event that a dual game is selected, robot23 will be controlled by means 3|) and is thus subject to the same typeof control as the opposing robot. Means for discharging small objects,such as ball bearings, may .be provid-' ed as will be shown later. Suchmeans may conveniently discharge the balls onplaying field M from anysuitable spot, such as that portion of the field bordering gameselecting control 32. With dual play, alternate balls are discharged onfield M on opposite sides of median line 21. Thus, the balls tend toroll toward the nearest robot. A complete game may use any desirednumber of balls. Any number of balls may be discharged any desirednumber of times to total a complete game.

In the event that a solo selection is made, then control 36 isinoperative, and means are provided whereby robot 23 is alternatelyturned first in one direction and then in the other as an automaticplayer. -In such case, the balls discharged on field |4 may :be directedon alternate sides of median line 21 or only. on one side. As describedlater, means are provided for directing the ba1ls:on-. one side ofmedian line 21 in a solo game. As will be apparent, the object of thegame is for a player to prevent any balls from entering his own goal,and instead to knock the balls beyond the opposing player to the othergoal. Upon themaking of a goal, means are provided for indicatin a core.The goal regions are connected bysuitable chutes tothe ball return ashereinafter described;

Robot 23 is mounted on shaft 36 coupled to motor 31having windings 38and '39. Motor 31 may conveniently 'be' a simple induction type 'motorhavingwindings for determining the direction of rotationand includingspeed reducing means; Thus, winding 38 may cause rotation in onedirection and winding'39 may cause rotation in the reverse direction.

Robot 24 is similarly mounted upon shaft 40 coupled to motor4'lhaving'windings' 42 and 43 for determining the'direction of rotation.The speed of rotation of the robots may beset to any desired value and,in practice, maybe something of the order of one or more revolutions persecond. Robot 23 guards goal region 2|, which regionis connected throughsuitable passage45 to chute 46 extending beneath field 14. Similarly,

'a ball comes up under finger 76.

'64 to driving motor 83.

4 robot 24 guards goal 22 connected by passage 41 to chute 4B.

Chutes 46 and 48 meet at ball feeding means generally indicated bynumeral 50. Ball feed 5|! has control plate 5|, which may be any shapedesired and is here shown as rectangular. Plate 5| is flat and has ballinlet opening 52 and discharge openings 53 and 54. Ball inlet opening 52is at one side of the plate, this being the bottom where chutes 46 and418 meet, while discharge openings 53 and 54 are at the top of the plateon opposite sides of the center line. As is evident from Figure 2,discharge openings 53 and 54 are normally adapted to lie on oppositesides of median line 27 of playing field l4.

Control plate 5! is provided with shutter 55 pivoted at 56 and movableto cover discharge opening 53. Shutter 55 has lug 57 to which hook 58 isattached, this hook being carried by armature 59 of solenoid 6|luSpring6| normally biases armature 59 in a position to maintain shutter 55open. This may be'reversed if desired.

Operating in proximity to plate 5| is circular ball feed plate 63rotatively secured to shaft 64. Plate 63 has a plurality of apertures 65therethrough, these apertures being disposed circularly around shaft 64.Each aperture 65 is large enough to accommodate one ball bearin 66 usedin the game. Plate 63 is so mounted with respect to control plate 5! andapertures 65 are so displate 63, apertures 65 will periodically registerwith inlet opening 52 and discharge openings 53 and 54 of control plate5|.

On the side of ball feed plate 63, remote from control plate 5l, isfront cover plate 61. Cover plate' 6'! and control plate 5| are rigidlymaintained with respect to each other by bolts 68 engaging tappedapertures 16 in the four corners of control plate 5|. Spacing sleeves 1|between the cover and control plates maintain the plates separated apredetermined distance. This separation distance is just enough largerthan the diameter of 'balls 66 sothat clearance between the cover andcontrol plates may be provided. It is understood that ball feed plate 63is rotatable between the cover and control plates and that shaft 64passes through a suitable clearance opening in cover plate 61. r

Cover plate 61 carries a pair of coil spring 13 and Msuitably mountedthereon and having fingers l5 and 16 extending through apertures Tland'TB in the cover plate. Fingers l5 and 15 are adapted to bear againstball feed plate 63, and the position of engagement with plate 63 is suchas to register with discharge openings 53 and 54 in control plate 5|. Itwill be noted that fingers l5 and 16 are shaped to engage .balls 66 andurge them through discharge openings'53 and 54. Cooperating with fingerI6 is switch 86, this being adapted to have its contacts closed everytime This switch controls the shutter for dual play' and also counts thenumber of balls for terminating the game after a predetermined number ofballs, such as ten, have been projected on the field.

Ball feed plate "63is connected by drive shaft This driving motor may beany type desired and is adapted to turn ball feed plate 63 ata desiredspeed. Driving motor 83 may conveniently be of the induction type havingreducing gearing therein and well known in the trade for driving clocks,time-conjtrolled, mechanism, and other devices. It is clear that thedirection .of drive of ball feed plate 63, as seen in Figure 5, isanti-clockwise. A friction clutch may be provided to prevent damage incase a ball jams.

Referring now to Figure 8, a circuit diagram showing the connectionsbetween the various parts of the system is given. It willbe understoodthat the actual electrical circuit elements may be disposed in anysuitable portion of the cabinet and connections made to the variousmotors and switches. Thus, wires 86 and may be connected to any suitablesource of power, such as a 60 cycle, 110 volt outlet.

Wire 86 is connected through fuse 88 to lead 90 going to one terminal ofswitch 9I. Switch 9| is operated by coin slide 34. When coin slide 34 ispressed inwardly against spring 92, switch 9| is one of a number ofswitches which are closed. When the pressure on coin slide 34 iswithdrawn, it is understood that it returns to its normal position andthat switch 9Iv is opened. Switch 9I has fixed contact 93 connected bywire 94 to one terminal of step-by-step switch 96. Step-by-step switch96 may be any one of a number of well-known types generally used intelephone or other work wherein a movable contact wiper is progressivelyactuated to go from one fixed contact to another fixed contact. Suchstep-by-step switches, or selector switches as they are sometimescalled, are generally provided with holding means for preventing thewiper arm from returning to its starting position until after apredetermined amount of travel or if the power for the holding circuitis cut off. Thus, a simple diagrammatic form of step-by-step switchwhich may be used here is disclosed on page 2038, particularly Figures35 and 36, of Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers, Seventhedition, published by McGraw-Hill. As used in the circuit of Figure 8,the wiper operated by the step-by-step switch plays over one bank ofcontacts corresponding to one digit in telephone switching. It isunderstood, of course, that such a bank may provide more than nine orten contacts, and may provide as many as are necessary.

Wire 81 is connected to another terminal of step-by-step switch 96.Thus, wires 94 and'8l are connected to the holding coil of step-bystepswitch 96.

Connected across wires 94 and 8! is relay 98 having leads 99 and I09respectively. Relay 93 has armature IOI which is normally away from backcontact I02. Armature IIII is connected to lead 99 of the relay. Fromcontact I02, connection I03 goes to switch I04 oi timer I05. Switch I04has its other terminal connected by lead I06 to wire 90.

Timer I05 is provided with push-button I01. Timer I05 may be any simpletime switch that will keep switch I04 closed upon actuation ofpush-button IN. The closure time is short and of the order of about ahalf a minute. This timer is provided to hold a circuit closed duringthe time between the deposit of two successive coins in slide 34.Witheach coin, slide 34 must be pushed in and, in order to allow for anyreasonable delay in depositing a succeeding coin, timer I05 is providedto maintain acir'cuit closed after the initial coin slide operation. Itis understood that slide 34 may be provided with means well known in theart to prevent operation of any of the mechanism and switches controlledby the slide such as switch 9| and timerI05 unless a coin is actuallydeposited into the coin slide. Thus, an idle operation of coin slide 34should not operate any of the switches or timers.

mechanically tied together to a bank of switch dotted lines.

6 From wire 90, connection I09 is made to wire IIO. Wire IIO isconnected between switch III, operated by coin slide 34, and switch I I2in main timer II3. Switch-H2 has its other terminal, in this case thefixed contact, connected to line I I4. Main timer I I3 has second switchII5 con- .nected by lead II6 to wire H0 and further connected by lead III to wire 94. Coin controlled switch I II has its fixed contactconnected by wire II8 to step-by-step switch 90. Jumper II9 connectsline switch 31 to the advancing coil of switch 96. Thus, lead H8 andjumper II9 go to the portion of step-by-step switch whcih advances thewiper to be described later. Wires 81 and 94 go to the holding coil ofthe step-bystep switch.

provided with trip I23 which is adapted to be initially engaged by'dogI24 on coin slide 34.

Thus, coin slide 34 when'properly loaded with a coin and actuated by aplayer pushes dog I24 against trip I23 and releases main timer II3 fromany previous setting. Thus, for example, if main timer H3 is of the typecontrolled by a spring movement, trip I23 may be connected to the mainspring and cause the same to unwind. After trip I23 has been operated,further movement of coin slide 34 will depress spring button I2I tostart timer II 3 on a new timing cycle. On the return movement of coinslide 34, dog I24 will turn in a clockwise position to clear trip I23.It will be noted that timer I95 does not have such a trip so that, oncethe timer is started on a timer cycle, no means for suddenly cutting offthe cycle is provided.

Step-by-step switch 96 operates wiper I26, it being understood thatwiper I26 is advanced one step at a time by an energization of wires I I3 and H9 for any continuous period of time. Thus, irrespective of howlong wires I I8 and H9 are energized, wiper I20 will be moved only onestep. After wires H8 and H9 have been deenergized, then the nextenergization will advance wiper I23 another step. As shown here, wiper26 is normally in an olT position and may advance one step to contactI2'I or-two steps to contact I28. Con- "tact I21 is connected by wireI29 to bottom con 'tact I30 of a switch. Contact I28 is connected bywire I32 to top contact I33 of the same switch.

This switch has movable contact I3I connected by wire I34 to Wire 31.Movable contact I 3| is contacts, all actuated by knob 32 as indicatedby All these switches may be set for either dual or solo play.

Before proceeding further with the'circuit, the operation of the coincontrolled and time controlled portion of the system so far describedwill be given. Under normal conditions and assuming that the main timeris open as shown, coin controlled switches 9| and II I, switches intimers I05 and II3 and relay 98 will all be in the condition shown.Assume first that a solo game is to be desired. In that case, movablecontact I3I will be in the down position against fixed contact I30. Sucha game will require, for example, one

- from its off position to contact I21.

f coin. Upon the deposit of a coin in coin slide 34 and the operation ofthe slide, the following occurs. Switch 9| is closed, thus completingthe .circuit from line wire 86 through coin switch 9| 1 to wire 94, lead99, relay 98, lead I to line wire This causes armature |0| to be pulledup against fixed contact I02. At the same time,

small interval timer I is operated so that switch I04 is closed for ashort time. Thus, a circuit from wire 86 through fuse 88, wire 90,lead'I06,= 'switch I04, lead I03, fixed contact I02, armature IIlI, lead99, relay 98, lead I00 and line wire 81 time interval of the order ofabout one-quarter of a minute or longer, a through connection from line86 to wire 94 is effectively established. This is only important fordual play.

At the same time, wires 94 and 81 energize the holding portion ofstep-by-step switch 96. Switch I I I, which has also been momentarilyclosed,-provides a circuit from wire I09 through switch III to wire 8through the advance mechanism of step-by-step switch 96 to jumper H9,and then to line wire 81. Thus, wiper I26 will be ,moved This willcomplete a, circuit from line wire 81 through lead I34, movable contactI3I, fixed contact I30, lead I29, fixed contact I21, to wiper I26.

With the same movement of coin slide 34, main timer 3 has also beenactuated and timer switches H2 and 5 both closed. With timer switch I I5closed, a circuit is established from line Wire 86 through fuse 88, wire90, wire I09, 4 -wire II6, switch II5, wire I" to wire 94. From wire 94,the circuit continues through the holding portion of step-by-step switch96 to line wire 81. It is, thus, clear that, as long as timer switch.II5 is closed, the holding circuit for switch 96 will be continuouslyenergized. This will prevent 'wiper I26 from returning to the offposition by virtue of the opening of small timer I05 or coin controlledswitches 9| and III. It is clear that,

With a solo game selected and with one coin actuation of slide 34, wiperI26 and wire I I4 will be energized for a time interval corresponding tothe maximum time duration of a game, this being controlled by main timerI I3.

Assume that a dual game is to be played and that the switch selection isaccordingly made. In that case, switch I3I would be in the up positionbearing against contact I33. With the first coin in coin slide 34, theoperation Will be the same as previously described. However, with onlyone coin, it will be evident that wiper I26 will be on a dead contactI21. With a second operation of slide 34, switches 9| and III will beclosed again. Switch 9|, however, has no effect, since small intervaltimer I05 is still closed from the, first coin operation and keeps relay98 closed. -However, the second closure of switch III will causestep-by-step switch 96 to advance wiper I26 to contact I28.

It is understood that, in the tripping of main timer I I3, switch I I Iwill be closed simultaneously with switch 9| during the operation ofslide 34.

.Thus, the initial movement of slide 34 will open main timer 3 andswitches H2 and H5, while the final movement of slide 34 will close themagain and start timer 3 on a new timing cycle.

With wiper I26 at contact I28, wiper I26 will be energized from linewire 81.

Wiper I26 has wire I36 connected thereto.

{Wires II4 and I36 are the main energy supply.

wires to'the game apparatus proper exclusive of timerand coin controlaction. Wires H4 and I36 supply transformer primary I31 whose secondaryI38 may be used to actuate motor 4| for right-hand robot 24.

Secondary I38 has one terminal connected to contact I39 of what iseffectively a single pole, double throw switch controlled by handle 3|.In

actual practice, two separate switches as shown in 'contact I4I may beconnected through winding 43 of motor 4|, these two windings beingconnected to the other terminal of secondary I38. In the neutralposition of control handle 3|, motor 4| will not be energized. Bythrowing control handle 3| to one side, motor 4| will be energized toturn robot 24 in one direction. By reversing the control, the motorrotation will be reversed. In this way, only the direction of rotationis controlled with no attempt at controlling the speed. It is possible,however, to provide speed control means so that the speed of rotationwill be a function of the amount of throw of handle 3|.

Distributing wires H4 and I36 are also connected to primary I43 of atransformer, this primary cooperating with secondary I44. Secondary I44has terminal I45 to which are connected windings 38 and39 of motor 31operating robot 23. Windings 38 and 39 are connected to contacts I46 andI41 respectively cooperating with movable contact I48 controlled byhandle 39. Motor 31, in addition to driving robot 23, also drivesactuating finger I58. Finger I56 may be driven either at the same speedas robot 23 or at a reduced speed. Finger I56 cooperates with snapswitch I5I having terminals I52 and I53 connected to windings 88 and 39respectively. Snap switch I5I has movable contact I54 adapted to connecteither of contacts I52 or I53 to contacts I55. Snap switch I5I, ineffect, is a single pole, double throw switch. Contacts I55 areconnected bylead I56 back to contact I51 of one bank of switchescontrolled by game selection knob 32. Contact I51 cooperates withmovable contact I58 which is connected to terminal I59 of secondary I44.Movable contact I58 can also cooperate with fixed contact I60 connectedto movable con .tact I48 operated by handle 30. 7

As clearly indicated, fixed contact I60 is fo dual play, while fixedcontact I51 is for solo play.

In the case of dual play, handle 30 controls the motor driven robot 23in the same manner as control 3|. In the solo position, control 30 isinoperative. When playing solo, finger I50 oper- The amount of travel ofthe robot in one direction may be made equal to, less than, or greaterthan the amount of travel in the reverse direction.

Line H4 is connected to transformer primary I62 whose secondary I63 hasterminals I64 and I I65. I Terminal I64 isconnected to movable contactI66 of ball switch 80. This contact cooper- 76.

ates with; fixed contact |61, which fixed contact is connected to theadvancing coil of step-bystep selector switch I18. Selector switch I maybe of the same type as switch 96. The advancing coil circuit iscompleted by a jumper to wire I12.

Terminals I64 and I65 are connected by leads Ill and I12 to switch III!for holding purposes. Switch I18 drives movable contact I13 over a bankof contacts whose number depends upon the maximum number of balls whichmay be used in a game. Assuming that the balls are projected on thefield a maximum of ten times for one game, movable wiper I13 maycooperate with ten fixed contacts I14. in addition to. the original oficontact.

Alternate contacts I14 are connected together by wire I15, this wiregoing to solenoid 68. The remaining contacts are dead. Solenoid 60. hasits other terminal connected by lead I18 to fixed contact [11. of aswitch having movable contact I18. This switch is mechanically. tied to,movable contact I58, so. that knob 32 actuates, them together. Only thedual position of contact I18; is used. Wiper I13 is connected by leadI88 to transformer terminal I54.

Line H4 is also connected to primary I83, whose secondary I83, energizesball feed motor 83. In order to control theenergization of trans,-formerprimaries, I82 and I82 and determine the maximum number of ba lsWhich may be fed for one game, the following may be provided. Wiper I85.traveling with wiper I13v is driven by step-by- Ste-p.5w-itc-h lie; Wipr I85 may pl y. v r a series. or fixed contacts, I861. An oil contact orposition is shown. The number of fixed. contacts, I88- is, equal tothenumber of fixed contacts; I14. As shown, ten. areproyicledlv permittinga maximum of ten balls to, a game. Cooperating with any desired one offixed contacts I88 is connection I88 going to. relay I99. Thisconnectionmay be readily changed. Connection I88 is also. con: nectedto. fixed fiorward contact I9I of the relay. Relay- I19D has armatureI92; connected by wire- I98 to main distributing wirev I36, Jumper, I94;connects, wiper I85 to. wire. I93. Relay I99 has back contact I95;connected by wire, I95; to, junc-v tion I91 connected to, transformerprimaries I82 and I822. Relay I98- is connected by: Wire I98. to wireII4.

Wires H4 and I 38 are also connected; to two; scoring systems, 289, and2M, only one 0t,- which, is shown in detail. Thusthewires. are connectedto; transformer primary 292. Secondary 2,83 has one terminal connectedthrough switch 28,4 mounted in; ballreturn chute 45. As shown in Figure2. switches 204 and, 284'- are mounted, on chutes 48. and 48;respectively. Each switch hasspring finger;- 295 extending inside thechute and: actuated by a ball passing the same to close theswitchmomentarily. As shown in-Figure 8; switch 2,94is

connected to step-by-step switch 288, the return.

circuit being made by jumper; 2,0 1 and; lead 288;" ck. o, seconda 3- aZIIIccQQp IateSivJ ie iumbe of a ps 21A-w l ep nupon he ei mum b rbelsto a s me.

ene at on ofi e me anparatusisas follows, Assuming that'a solo gameis-.chosen,andc coin. slide 34-;hasbeen operated once, as. pointedout-pneviously, distributing wires I14 and I36 will be energized. Thus,transformer primary I31 will be energized. This will permit control 3|to 0p.- erate robot 24.

Transformer primary I43 will be energized and secondary I44 willenergize a circuit including movable contact I58 and fixed contact I51.In the solo position of control handle 32, control '39 will beinefiective due to dead contact I88. Instead, a circuit from secondaryI44 through terminal I59. movable contact I58, fixed contact I51 andwire I58 will be established. to snap switch I5I'. De? pending upon theposition of this switch, windings 38 and 99 will be alternatelyenergized. It is clear that the direction of motor rotation should be sorelated to the polarity of connections to switch S5I as to provide forreversal of motor operation at the end of the travel in any onedirection.

Wiper I will be in the off position so that relay I will remain in theposition shown in the drawing; Thus, from distributing wire I36 throughwire I93 to wire I94 and wiper I85, the circuit will be dead as far asthe winding of relay I98 is concerned. At the same time, however-, acircuit from wire I38 through Wire I93, armature I92, back contact I95,wire I96, junction I91, and thence through windings I62 and I82 inparallel will be established to distributing wire I I 4. Withtransformer primary I82 energized, ball feed motor- 8.3: will operateand feed balls to the playing field. With each ball fed, ball switch 88will be actuated. The actuation of ball switch 88, closing contacts I56and I61, will actuate step-by step switch I18 and advance wipers I13and: I85. Inasmuch as a. solo game. is being played, movable contact I13will be inefiective. During an en-- tire game, leads I'll and I12 arecontinuously energized for; holding, switch I18. However, solenoid; 69;will; not, be, energized due to. dead contact I 11;, and all balls willbe fed in the samev manner through dischargeopening 53.

As shown in: Figure 8, when eight balls have been fedand; wiper I85completes a circuit: with connection I88; relay I90, willbe operated.Thus, the relay operating circuit will go from wire I36: to wire I93,thencetowire I94, to wiper I85, to connection I88, through the windingof relay I90; thence by wire I98; to wire II4; Uponenergization, ofrelay I98, armature I92; is pulled. up: against contact I9I. A holdingcircuitfor: relay I90 is established tending, to maintain the relay; ina holding, position throughout the remainder of that game period. This.holding position circuit-may be traced from wire I33 to wire I-93 armature I92, contact I91, through the'windinaof relay I98, wire I98 towire II4. Upon; actuation of relay. I98, the energizing circuit fortransformerprimaries I52. and, I82 is broken. Thus, the ball feed motorstops. Step-by-step-switch I18 will, be released to return the-wipers tooff posi-- tion. However, it should be noted that relay lllfl will holdthe armature against contact. I'9I- until main timer, I I3 opens.

Throughout, the. game, transformer primary 282 of scorer 288 isenergized. Secondary 2.83. supplies energy to the scoring system; Thisscoring system comprises step-by-step switch 206 which. advances wiper2H1 once for each. time switch 284' is operated, Since switch.2Il,4..is.op,er. -v ated once for every ball inreturn chute 4.6, it will. beevident that the condition of step-by-step switch 286 will be anindication of the score for that one particular side. Each fixed contact2l2, is connected to an individual scoring lamp 2I.4. The lampenergizing circuit may-be traced from secondary 283,- lead 2II- andwiper 210, through whichever fixed contact 2 I 2 the Wiper happens to beon, and thence through corresponding lamp 2| 4 to common return 2I3 andback to secondary 203. As clearly indicated in Figure 1, each scoringlamp may illuminate a number.

It is understood that scorer I duplicates scorer 200 as far as circuitdetails are concerned. Other scoring means may be provided if desired.

Assuming that a dual game is played, the only difierence in the systemwill be as follows. Movable contact I58 will bear against fixed contactI60. Thus, control for robot 23 will be operative, and the control willbe exercised in exactly the same manner as in connection with robot 24.It is clear that snap switch I5I will be inoperative under suchconditions.

. With dual game, movable contact I18 bears against fixed contact I11and step-by-step switch I10 will advance wiper I13 alternately from deadto live fixed contacts I14 as balls actuate switch 88. When a livecontact is encountered, the circuit from wiper I13 will be completedthrough solenoid 6i! and return wire I16 to fixed contact I11. Uponenergization of solenoid 60, shutter is operated, causing a ball to gopast discharge opening 53 and be discharged through opening 54-. Thisresults in the ball being discharged to the left of the median line offield I4.

The next ball will cause switch 80 to operate again and advance wiperI13 to a dead contact.

This will mean that solenoid will be dead and a ball will be dischargedthrough opening 53. Thus, the calls will be alternately dischargedthrough openings 53 and 54.

It is immaterial whether switch 80 is operated by a particular ball intime to operate the shut- I ter for that same ball or succeeding ball.It is,

of course, desirable that the operation be consistent. Successive ballswill be alternately discharged through the two openings on oppositesides of the center line of the field.

If a game has been finished before timer II3 opens the circuit and a newgame is desired, then coin slide 34 may be actuated to release timer II3. This deenergizes wires I I4 and I36, and the various step-by-stepswitches will return to off position.

Instead of small interval timer I05, other means for holding switch 9|closed for an equivalent time may be provided. Thus, dash pot means onswitch 9| may be provided for keeping this switch closed long enough toaccommodate two operations of coin slide 34.

It is, of course, possible to provide a plurality of robots as a team totake the place of one robot on each side of the playing field. In suchcase,

all the robots on one team would be moved simultaneously, either in thesame direction or in different directions. Instead of rotation, they maybe moved along the field for a distance and then returned.

It will be apparent that my invention makes possible the construction ofa game apparatus providing considerable amusement and requiringsubstantial skill.

What is claimed is:

1. In a game apparatus of the kind described, a playing field havingopposed playing positions and having goals beyond said positions, arotatable robot at each playing position, each robot including a meansfor intercepting a ball when said robot is in proper position,electrically actuat'ed means for supplying at least one ball on i saidfield and initially directing the same toward driving'one robot, 2;second electric motor for driving the other robot, a circuit for saidfirst motor including a first manual control so that when said circuitis energized said one robot including manually controllable switchingmeans having solo and dual playing positions for disabling either thesecond manual control or automatic reversing means respectively so thatwhen said switching means is in condition for solo play. the manualcontrol for the second robot is ineffective and the automatic reversingmeans is effective during a game and when the switching means is incondition for dual play, both manual controls are effective to controlthe two robots during the game with the automatic reversing means beingineffective.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said ball-supplyingmeans supplies a number of balls, wherein means are provided forinitially directing when operative during a game successive ballsalternately toward one or the other playing positions, means interlockedwith said selector switching means for energizing only one of saidball-directing means during a, game, the means for directing all ballstoward one playing position being operative for solo play and the meansfor directing successive balls alternately toward one or other positionbeing operative during dual play.

3. In a game apparatus of the kind described, means defining aplayingfield having opposed playing positions and having goals beyondsaid playing positions, a rotatable robot at each playing position, eachrobot having means for intercepting a ball, an electric motor for onerobot, a second electric motor for the second robot, means forcontrolling said motors so that said robots may be turned in one orother direction as desired, chutes communicating with each goal forreceiv-- ing balls, said chutes meeting in a common dis charge regionand beingso disposed that said balls roll toward said common dischargeregion, ball feeding means including a rotatable plate having a seriesof apertures symmetrically disposed around the center of rotation,stationary plates on opposite sides of said rotatable plate, onestationary plate having a ball intake aperture communicating with saidchute discharge region and adapted to register with an aperture in saidrotatable plate at periodic intervals, said; other stationary platehaving two discharge apertures, said apertures having cooperating means:for directing balls toward said opposed playing; positions respectively,shutter means cooperating, with a selected discharge aperture forreleasing a. ball therethrough, means for controlling said-1 shuttermeans so all balls during an entire game are discharged through said oneaperture, means. for controlling the shutter means so that duringanentire game balls are discharged alternately through one or through theother discharge apertures, and manual means for initiating a, game andselecting Which of the two shutter control:

means shall be operative during an entire game.

4. In a game apparatus of the kind described, means defining a playingfield having opposed playing positions, opposed movable robots at saidplaying positions, electrical means for operating said robots, manualmeans for controlling onehalf of the robots to move the same intovarious playing positions, a second manual means for controlling theremaining half of the robots for moving the same into various positions,electrically controlled means for automatically moving the remaininghalf of the robots cyclically into various positions, manual selectormeans, a coin slide, switch means operatively coupled to said coinslide, a stepping switch controlled by said last named switch means,said stepping switch having off, solo and dual game positionsrespectively and. adapted to be stepped up from an initial off positionby successive coin slide movements to solo and dual game positionsrespectively, and means controlled by the joint action of said selectormeans and said stepping switch for selectively preparing operatingcircuits for the second manual means and automatic means respectivelywhereby one movement 01 said coin slide will advance said steppingswitch to a solo game position and together with a solo selection bysaid manual selector means will initiate a solo game where a player willoperate only the first manual means witl the automatic means operatingagainst the player and whereby two movements of said coin slide willadvance said stepping switch to a dual game position and together with adual game selection by said manual selector means will initiate a dualgame where two players may operate said two manual means against eachother, said second manual means and automatic means not being operativesimultaneously during any one game.

JERRY C. KOCI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

